KIEV, September 24. /ITAR-TASS/. Gas prices in Ukraine may quadruple if Naftogaz of Ukraine sets a unified price for all gas consumers, a company senior official said on Wednesday.

Alexander Todiichuk, Naftogaz of Ukraine Deputy CEO, said this initiative had been supported by the Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Ministry.

“This is a very heavy blow, and politicians are trying to avoid it in view of the elections this autumn as people’s discontent may affect this process,” he said.

On Tuesday, Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yuri Prodan said the country was ready to agree “an interim market price” for gas imported from Russia.

“We are trying to find a solution. The question is what one can expect from the upcoming gas talks between Russia, Ukraine and the EU in Berlin on September 26. We support the compromises offered by the European Union and we are consulting the EU in order to work out a compromise,” he said.